A notorious rapist and murderer who has spent more than 50 years behind bars will stay in a high security jail after having his parole refused. Ronald Evans, one of the longest serving prisoners in Britain, will remain behind bars in a secure unit following his failed parole hearing.
Nicknamed the “Clifton Rapist”, Evans raped and murdered Kathleen Heathcote in 1964 before committing a string of sexual attacks in Bristol in the late 70s. The 83-year-old was released in 2018, but was jailed again in 2023 for four years after sexually assaulting a woman in London in 2022.
As reported by the BBC, a Parole Board hearing on December 12 refused his release and refused to recommend a move to open prison, due to his risk of absconding and high risk that Evans would reoffend again if released.
At the age of 22, Evans was convicted of the sexually motivated murder of Ms Heathcote, a 21-year-old shop worker who went missing in Nottinghamshire. He served 11 years of his life term before being released on licence in 1975 and moving to Bristol.
Between 1977 and 1979, seven women were sexually assaulted in the Clifton, Redland and Westbury Park areas of the city.
Avon and Somerset Police launched an undercover operation in January 1979 after mounting pressure from the public, which saw young female and male officers setting “honeytraps” for Evans.
In March that year, police officer Michelle Leonard was grabbed by a man who told her “Don’t scream or I’ll kill you”. Her assailant turned out to be Evans, who went on to admit five attacks. He was jailed for 39 years.
Released in 2018, he then went on to offend again in 2022. During his sentencing last year, the judge told him that “time has done nothing to change the fact you are a sexual predator”.
A spokesperson for the Parole Board said its decisions were solely focused on the risk the prisoner could represent to the community and whether that risk was manageable. They added: “Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”